What is a POS system? A plain guide for Nepali retailers

If you run a physical pasal, you already have a system for counter sales: usually a copy (खाता), a calculator, and memory. A POS (point of sale) system is simply software that replaces that notebook: it rings up each sale, records how the customer paid, and keeps your stock count correct automatically.

What a POS does at the counter

A POS records four things every time someone buys at your shop:

• The bill: pick the products and quantities, then calculate the total in rupees.
• The payment: record whether the customer paid by cash, wallet, or QR, so the day's takings reconcile against your drawer and your bank app.
• The stock: every sale subtracts from inventory when it happens. When someone asks "yo saman chha?", the screen provides a stock count that staff can check against the shelf.
• The record: end-of-day totals and product sales provide a basis for reordering.

None of that requires special hardware. Modern POS software runs on the phone or tablet you already own; a receipt printer or barcode scanner is optional, not an entry requirement.

One stock list for the counter and website

A standalone POS is useful. A POS that shares inventory with your online store changes how the whole business runs.

Without shared inventory, a shop may keep one notebook for the counter and another list for online orders. A jacket sells at the counter on Saturday afternoon, but the website still shows it in stock that evening. The next customer places an order that the shop cannot fill.

With one shared stock list, a counter sale updates your website's availability instantly, and an online order reserves stock so the shop floor can't sell it out from under you. Same products, same prices, same count everywhere you sell.

What to look for in a POS as a Nepali retailer

Most POS software you'll find in a search is built for other markets. Check for:

• Runs on your existing devices: a phone or cheap tablet, without dedicated hardware.
• Cash, QR, and wallet payment recording: the methods commonly used at Nepali counters, including Fonepay and wallet payments.
• Prices and reports in NPR.
• Shared inventory with your online store: the one-stock-list point above (this is the feature that pays for everything else).
• A simple end-of-day summary you'd actually look at.

Do you need one?

If you only sell online, your store dashboard already records those sales. If you only sell at a small counter, a notebook may still be enough. A shared-inventory POS becomes useful when the same products are sold at a physical pasal and through Instagram, TikTok, or a website. It reduces the chance that both channels sell the last unit. If you are still setting up, begin with our guide to starting an online business in Nepal.

Pasalos is rolling out a POS for counter sales on phones and tablets, using the same inventory as the online store. It is not generally available yet; founding stores receive early access.